Kevin Gausman (shoulder) is expected to throw 60-to-65 pitches in Monday’s Grapefruit League finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Monday’s appearance might be enough to convince the Toronto Blue Jays he doesn’t need to be on the injured list, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports. Since Gausman reported arm fatigue earlier in the spring, the assumption has been that he would miss the start of the season. However, the right-hander said his arm felt fine after throwing in Wednesday’s simulated game.
If he works up to 60-plus pitches Monday, the Blue Jays may include him in the initial rotation.
Kevin Gausman Continues to Make Progress
The other option would be a brief IL stint while he continues to build up in extended spring training. Gausman admitted Wednesday he’d prefer to toss at least 75 pitches in an outing before making his first regular-season start. Toronto should be cautious with the American League Cy Young Award finalist. A slight delay to his season is the best option right now. If he misses a start, he could be on track to debut on April 3 in Houston. However, a home start on April 9 against the Seattle Mariners might be an ideal timeline.
Gausman’s Impact
The Blue Jays have been hit with injuries this spring, including Alek Manoah, Jordan Roman and Erik Swanson. Regarding fWAR, Gausman is one of the most valued members of the rotation. Gausman has been one of the best players for the past three seasons, posting a 3.10 ERA and 29.6 percent strikeout rate. His 2023 season saw him lead the rotation with a 3.16 ERA in 31 starts. Gausman would have been the Opening Day starter if not for his setback that put him behind schedule. Instead, José Berríos will get the nod, who’s had an excellent spring campaign.
Pitching Depth to the Rescue
The Blue Jays will have to look into the pitching depth from camp. Bowden Francis is a strong candidate to earn a rotation spot. Whereas Mitch White and Wes Parsons are other candidates for a starting role or a long-relief job. Gausman feels good about that group of pitchers.
“As you saw last year, our pitching staff was one of the best,” Gausman said to Julia Kreuz of MLB.com. “That young guys that needed to make that jump [to full-time big leaguer contributors] have. They’ve shown that they’re a lot more professional in the way they go about their business. If Bowden needs to cover for me for a couple of starts, I feel pretty confident with him to Mitch White. Wes Parsons, same thing.”
Before Wednesday, Francis had allowed one run over 12 innings through three Grapefruit League appearances. Francis’ 2023 performance with the Blue Jays made him a reliable long reliever. He posted a 1.73 ERA and 35 strikeouts over 36 1/3 innings. As for Parsons and White, they are still looking for a consistent command, something that will be key for a role in the majors.
Main Photo: © Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
